Cyclone Arnab Flight Cancellation : Air services have reportedly been affected by Cyclone Arnab. According to the information provided, several airlines, including Air India, IndiGo and Air India Express, have cancelled or suspended flights on various routes. Keeping passenger safety in mind, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued necessary instructions to airlines and airport operators. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and obtain information about rebooking and refund options.

Flights Affected Across Coastal Regions
According to the ministry, coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha are expected to experience the greatest impact from the cyclone. Besides flights arriving at and departing from Bhubaneswar, air operations in Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur may also be affected depending on weather conditions. Following a review meeting, the ministry directed airlines to follow safety instructions related to adverse weather and provide timely updates to passengers.

Airport Closures Disrupt Flight Operations
According to the report, flight operations at Visakhapatnam Airport were suspended from the afternoon of October 27. Services at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports were also reportedly halted after 7 PM on October 27. In addition, flights on the Delhi–Bhogapuram–Delhi route scheduled for October 28 were reportedly cancelled. Due to changing weather conditions and airport operations, passengers need to recheck their travel plans before departure.

Air India and IndiGo Cancel Multiple Flights
According to the information provided, Air India cancelled a total of six flights on the Delhi–Visakhapatnam–Delhi route for October 27 and the Delhi–Vijayawada–Delhi route for October 28. Air India Express also cancelled 13 flights. These reportedly included several services connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada. The Varanasi–Bangkok and Bangkok–Visakhapatnam routes were also affected. IndiGo announced the suspension of flights to Visakhapatnam. Operations at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were also halted after the evening of October 27. Akasa Air cancelled its Delhi–Bhogapuram flights and return services scheduled for October 28. Meanwhile, according to the report, Alliance Air had not announced any flight cancellations.

How to Request Rebooking and Refunds
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised passengers to check their flight status through the airline’s website, mobile app, helpline or SMS service before leaving home. Passengers should head to the airport only after confirming their flight status. If a flight has been cancelled or its schedule changed, they should contact the relevant airline to learn about rebooking, alternative flights and refund options. Refund and rescheduling conditions may vary depending on the ticket type and the airline’s applicable policy.

Steps to Seek Complaints and Passenger Assistance
The ministry has instructed airlines and airport operators to prioritise assistance for senior citizens, passengers with disabilities, families travelling with young children and people requiring medical assistance. If a complaint remains unresolved after contacting the airline, passengers can submit it through the AirSewa portal or mobile app. According to the ministry, coordination has been strengthened among the Airports Authority of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Meteorological Department, airlines and disaster management agencies in the affected states to help ensure passenger safety during adverse weather conditions.